Dev Shayani Ekadashi Vrat 2019

Hari Shayani ekadashi or devshayani ekadashi is often regarded as the holiest of all ekadashi days by Vaishnavas who consider Lord Vishnu as the supreme God. Shayani ekadashi is also called Maha ekadashi, Padma ekadashi, Dev Shayani ekadashi.

Dev Shayani ekadashi falls on the ekadashi tithi in the Shukla Paksha of Ashadha month. It is on the 12th July Friday 2019. Shri Thakurji is offered Draksh or Resinsin the Bhog Samagri .

Dev Shayani Ekadashi Vrat and Puja rituals:

Taking a holy bath is considered to be very auspicious on ashadi ekadashi. Devotees in large number gather at Nasik, to take a dip in the Godavari River, in the honour of Shri Rama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu.

On the day of ekadashi, devotees keep a fast by refraining from specific foods like rice, beans, grains, cereals, specific vegetables and spices. By keeping a fast on this day, the observer will be able to resolve all the problems or tensions in life.

Devotees decorate the idol of Lord Vishnu with Gadha, Chakra, Shank and bright yellow clothes. Incense sticks, flowers, betel, betel nut and Bhog are presented as offerings. After the puja ritual, aarti is sung and the prasad is eaten together with other devotees.

On this ekadashi, the observer of this vrat must remain awake all night and chant religious bhajans or songs in praise of Lord Vishnu. Reciting religious chants like ‘Vishnu Sahartanaam’ is also considered very auspicious.

Significance of Dev Shayani Ekadashi:

The greatness of Dev shayani Ekadashi was narrated first by Lord Brahma to his son Narad and later by Lord Krishna to King Yudhisthira, the eldest of the Pandavas that can be read in the ‘Bhavishyottara Purana’.

Shayani Ekadashi is one of the most significant ekadashi vrat that is also observed as the first ekadashi. It is a popular belief that anyone observing this Ekadashi vrat with complete commitment will be blessed with happy, prosperous and peaceful life. After enjoying the worldly pleasures, they will finally attain salvation.

This Ekadashi is famous for‘Pandharpur Ashadi Ekadashi Wakari Yatra’. Pandharpur is a small district in the state of Maharashtra and here God ‘Vithoba’, a personification Of Lord Vishnu is worshipped with dedication. The yatra or the religious procession is a 17-day long grand event that attracts tourists to this place. Moreover on the day of Ashadi ekadashi, Vaishnava Mutts dress in heated seals and this tradition is known as ‘Tapta Mudra Dharana’.

Dev Shayani Ekadashi falls during the time when Lord Vishnu sleeps on the ‘Shesha Naag’ in the ‘Ksheersagar’and therefore the name ‘Hari Shayani Ekadashi’.

 Lord Vishnu finally awakes, four months later, on the day of Prabodhini Ekadashi. This slumber period of the lord is known as ‘Chaturmas’ and it concurs with the rainy season. Devshayani Ekadashi marks the onset of the Chaturmas period and on this day, devotees keep a holy fast to invoke Lord Vishnu’s blessings.